UK: Anjem Choudary Released from Prison

"I believe we are underestimating the potency and danger of the radicalizers who don't carry knives, guns and overtly plot terrorist attacks but who pollute the minds of young Muslim men." — Richard Walton, former head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command.

"I asked the guy who spoke to him if the de-radicalization program had worked and he said, 'No, he's got worse. He's hardened. He speaks in the mind-set of the victim. He sees himself as a martyr the state tried to silence.'" — Fiyaz Mughal, head of the anti-extremist group Faith Matters.

Choudary is now considering mounting a legal challenge to the strict conditions of his release, according to the Telegraph. It reported that he has applied for legal aid funding, at taxpayer expense, to bring his action against government ministers, and arguing the parole conditions breach his human rights.

The Islamist firebrand preacher Anjem Choudary, described as Britain's "most dangerous extremist," has been released from prison after serving only half of the five-and-a-half-year sentence he received in 2016 for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

The Islamist firebrand preacher Anjem Choudary, described as Britain's "most dangerous extremist," has been released from prison after serving only half of the five-and-a-half-year sentence he received in 2016 for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State.

Prison authorities could not prevent his release: under British sentencing guidelines, prisoners — even those who are still a risk to the public — automatically become eligible for release under license (parole) after serving half their terms.

Prime Minister Theresa May has downplayed concerns over Choudary's release; British counter-terrorism authorities, however, say they are worried that he will re-exert influence on hundreds of followers upon his release. The cost to British taxpayers of keeping Choudary under surveillance is expected to exceed £2 million (€2.25 million; $2.6 million) a year, compared to the £50,000 (€57,000; $65,000) to keep him in prison.

Choudary, a 51-year-old born in Britain to Pakistani immigrants, has actively been promoting Islamic fundamentalism in Britain for more than three decades. In 1986, Choudary and an exiled preacher, Omar Bakri Mohammed, founded an Islamist group, al-Muhajiroun (Arabic: The Emigrants), a network of Salafi jihadists determined to spread Sharia law across Britain.

Al-Muhajiroun — which hailed the September 2001 jihadi attacks on the United States — was banned under the UK Terrorism Act 2000, in January 2010.

After that, al-Muhajiroun reinvented itself under an array of successor aliases. These included Islam4UK, Call to Submission, Islamic Path, Islamic Dawa Association, London School of Sharia, Muslims Against Crusades and Need4Khalifah, all of which have also been proscribed.

A November 2013 investigative report published by the anti-extremism charity Hope Not Hate concluded that al-Muhajiroun was "the single biggest gateway to terrorism in recent British history."

A September 2014 study published by the London-based Henry Jackson Society found that one in five terrorists convicted in Britain have had links to al-Muhajiroun.

In October 2018, during a debate in the House of Lords, Lord Anderson, a former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said that existing British law is insufficient to deal with Islamic radicalizers:

"Anjem Choudary has been mentioned, with good reason. As many as 25% of British jihadis convicted between 2001 and 2015 were associated with his organizations, outnumbering the 10% linked to al-Qaeda and the 5% linked to ISIS, or Daesh. His organizations also had great influence in northern Europe, yet although the police reported his activities to the Crown Prosecution Service 10 times between 2002 and 2015, no prosecution could be brought, whether for incitement to religious hatred, indirect encouragement to terrorism, inciting terrorism overseas, incitement to murder or proscription offences."

For years, Choudary, a lawyer by training, managed to stay "just within the law" by treading the fine legal line between the inflammatory rhetoric of Islamic supremacism and the right to free speech. Choudary — who called for the flag of the Islamic State to fly above Downing Street and wanted Buckingham Palace converted into a mosque and the Queen's face to be covered — was never been convicted of any offense, presumably much to the frustration of British authorities.

That scenario changed after the Islamic State proclaimed the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate in Iraq and Syria in June 2014. Police said that Choudary had become far more brazen and repeatedly crossed the legal threshold for criminal prosecution by encouraging terrorism.

In September 2014, Choudary pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and declared that the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is "the caliph of all Muslims and the prince of the believers." Between June 29, 2014 and March 6, 2015, Choudary also uploaded a series of lectures on YouTube in which he invited support for the Islamic State. At the time, Choudary was believed to have had links to as many as 500 jihadis who left Britain to join the Islamic State.

Police said the oath of allegiance was a "turning point" in terms of their ability to prosecute him. On September 25, 2014, Choudary and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, of Palmers Green in London, were each charged under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act with one offense of inviting support for the Islamic State.

Speaking to Sky News before his conviction, Choudary claimed that he was exercising his right to freedom of speech and had not broken the law:

"If you look at my speeches, I have said the same thing for 20 years. For me, it is a matter of worship. If people are implementing the Sharia, then I cannot shy away from what the divine text says in relationship to that. If you cannot say when you believe in something and you cannot share that view, then you don't really have freedom to express yourself in this country."

Choudary also welcomed the prospect of spending time in prison: "If they arrest me and put me in prison, I will carry on in prison. I will radicalize everyone in prison."

On July 28, 2016, following a trial at the Old Bailey, Choudary and co-defendant Rahman, were found guilty of inviting support for the Islamic State. Both were sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison.

Choudary spent some of his sentence in a special "separation unit" for dangerous extremists inside Frankland Prison in County Durham, to limit his possible influence over other inmates. He was released from Belmarsh prison in south-east London on October 19.

It is probable that Choudary will carry on as before: During his time in prison, according to the BBC, Choudary refused to take part in deradicalization programs.

Choudary will spend the rest of his sentence on "license" (parole) in the community, as part of attempts to reintegrate him and reduce the risk of reoffending. He must comply with 25 conditions that his release team, made up of probation and police officers, believe are necessary and proportionate to manage the risk he may still pose. If he breaches them, he risks being recalled to prison.

Several British officials downplayed the significance of Choudary's release. Prime Minister Theresa May said that "obviously he's an extremist preacher" but "if and when any terrorist offender is released, well-rehearsed plans are put in place to keep the public safe."

Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police's former assistant commissioner and former national lead for the UK's counter-terrorism policing, said it was important not to overstate Choudary's influence:

"At the end of the day he is a pathetic groomer of others.That is what he has done in the past. He is not some sort of evil genius we all need to be afraid of. I think we have to recognize that radicalizers look to generate a profile, look to prey on the vulnerable and we need to be thoughtful about how we report their activity."

Rowley also criticized the media's elevation of individuals like Choudary:

"It's pretty depressing if you Google 'UK Muslim spokesman' and he comes up as the first hit. For goodness sake, we have a very impressive Muslim mayor of London, a Muslim home secretary and he comes up as the first hit. On YouTube he is four of the first 10 videos.

"That is giving him a profile because these companies chase your attention through the salacious and contentious rather than through anything accurate or responsible.That is the disgrace in this and it gives people like him, who is a sad individual, more credibility and more attention than they deserve."

Others vehemently disagree. Prisons Minister Rory Stewart admitted that Choudary remains a "genuinely dangerous" individual; he added that the "completely pernicious" cleric would be watched "very, very carefully" by police and security services.

Richard Walton, a former head of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command, said that British authorities were underestimating the threat Choudary presents:

"I would describe him as a hardened terrorist, somebody who has had huge influence on the Islamist extremist scene in this country over many years. I believe we are underestimating the potency and danger of the radicalizers who don't carry knives, guns and overtly plot terrorist attacks but who pollute the minds of young Muslim men."

A former member of al-Muhajiroun, Adam Deen, who is now a director of the anti-extremist group Quilliam, warned that "it's highly unlikely that he's reformed and being out of prison he would definitely get lots of credence from his followers." Deen added:

"Restrictions are not going to stop Anjem's act. Be it middle-men or whoever, he will find a way to make an impact. I would be very surprised if he has in any way been reformed by prison. He has too much invested in his image. Some think he doesn't mean what he says, but he does. It's the scariest thing about him."

"[Choudary] is aware of what the law allows him to say and what not to say, and he rarely steps over the line. He knows how not to get himself into trouble. We were extremely lucky to find some material showing him promoting IS that allowed us to put him away. He remains a danger to anyone with whom he comes into contact — those who are vulnerable and impressionable.

"Goading is part of his strategy. He wants to drive a wedge between the Muslim community and the secular community. Terrorism is about polarizing views. Muslims are left alone by the main population and that allows extremists to thrive within that community.

"Choudary is one of the few public faces of Islamist extremism.There are not many people with his public persona, but several hundred who behind closed doors share his views. He is at the top of a hierarchical structure that at its base has about 20,000 people who are known to have contact with these hundreds of advisers."

The head of the anti-extremist group Faith Matters, Fiyaz Mughal, spoke of his interaction with an imam who was brought into prison to try to deradicalize Choudary:

"Choudary was put in containment that stops him engaging with other prisoners, but also given pastoral care to see if they could get through to him. I asked the guy who spoke to him if the de-radicalization program had worked and he said, 'No, he's got worse. He's hardened. He speaks in the mind-set of the victim. He sees himself as a martyr the state tried to silence.'"

"He [Choudary] should have served the full term. It's a terrible day for victims of the attacks he has helped incite. We need a change in the law so that anyone named as the inciter in two terrorist attacks should automatically serve the full sentence."

Only hours after Choudary arrived at a halfway house, where he will spend the next six months before being allowed to return home, he held a staged photo session. Choudary smiled and waved to the cameras — but said nothing, mindful not to breach his parole conditions, which prevent him talking to the media.

Choudary is now considering mounting a legal challenge to the strict conditions of his release, according to the Telegraph. It reported that he has applied for legal aid funding, at taxpayer expense, to bring his action against government ministers, and arguing the parole conditions breach his human rights.

Comment on this item

22 Reader Comments

Carl B • Oct 23, 2018 at 15:31

As weird as it sounds, one should only appreciate Choudary's honest interpretation of the doctrine of Islam, as it may, apart from recruting Jihadis, also open the eyes of those that may be willing to learn the truth about its doctrine first hand.

So much more refreshing than those that engage day in and day out in deceiving the gullible West about Islam (which is, according to the doctrine of Islam, an encouraged practice in order to spread Islam).

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Hzr • Oct 23, 2018 at 08:44

This is the tragedy of our so-called liberal societies. These extremists abuse the freedoms and privileges of open societies to preach and practice their toxic version of an outdated religion. China is the only nation which has understood the nature of these 'Believers" and treats them accordingly. The world should learn from China to better understand on how handle these extremists. Interestingly, with all the insults heaped by China on 'Islamic faithful' it is amazing to see the silence of the Islamic world.

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lyn uzelac • Oct 22, 2018 at 08:19

Choudhary is not going to change so let's show some sense. Please deprive him of his citizenship (after all he has pledged allegiance to ISIS) and send him back to the land of his forefathers.

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carol owen • Oct 20, 2018 at 19:35

The UN's "special treatment under the law for minorities" rule, allows gang rapists and the likes of Choudary and his hatred to be placed under Islamic "minority." This allows them to use our own government and our own laws to stand down the police, give them more rights than the host population and for them to get away with vile crimes because they are "minorities" and the rest of us are "racist" if we complain. Muslim Brotherhood has the upper hand as our government fear the word ISLAMOPHOBIA.

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jeb • Oct 20, 2018 at 19:29

What is Britain's problem? Are they still being guilted because of the colonialist period and all the accusations by Marxist socialists in the West? What have they got to feel bad about? They ended slavery in the commonwealth centuries before Islam, not that it has been totally eliminated either as a fact or a religious ideal. Still the Brits in turning away from a Divine Christ have left themselves without the means to forgive themselves and have hope of something better, because we all know socialism has told the biggest lies in human history and Communists more brutal and blood thirsty than the Ottomans.

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John Forbes • Oct 20, 2018 at 16:17

Anjem & his followers will see him as a Martyr in a Democracy that he & they consider HARAM.

There is no amount of prison that will - STOP - this NAIVELY called radicalism.

It is a very dangerous & aggressive mindset that puts an already badly compromised system on a collision course with this Ideology that is far more aggressive & determined that our Western Democracy.

The WEST is led by Cowards who simply refuse to look, try to understand or indeed even examine this pernicious & very aggressive Political Ideology that is supported very naively by the LEFT.

Apart from Churchill, Britain has not been well served by its politicians in terms of being up to the task of taking prescient action to protect its citizens' safety. There has been far too much pussyfooting around, always "hoping for the best" and tiptoeing diplomatically to avoid upsetting the feelings of x, y and z, in total ignorance of how humans work and historical consequences of appearing (and being) weak. British 'fair play' is hopelessly inappropriate in a world now roaming with Choudharys and Al Bakris running rings round them.

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Bisley • Oct 20, 2018 at 14:25

This situation is entirely the fault of British governments, past and present. If the laws require Choudary to be alive, out of prison, and in the UK, the laws are wrong, and need to be changed. Islam should not qualify for the same sort of legal protection as other religions because it is not like other religions -- it's a political, economic and legal structure as well as religion, a culture of its own, and incompatible with any other.

The punishments of death and exile need to be restored for terrorist activity, violent crime, etc., and liberally used. A prisoner being eligible for a reduced sentence shouldn't mean that he automatically gets it -- only those who are no threat to the public, and unlikely to continue doing the things they were put in prison for, should even be considered for early release. The laws are supposedly to protect the public -- they aren't doing it, and evidently the government doesn't want them to.

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Badger • Oct 20, 2018 at 12:55

"At the end of the day he is a pathetic groomer of others." says Mark Rowley, former national lead for the UK's counter-terrorism policing in an attempt to play down the seriousness of Choudary's influence.

So that is how the anti-terrorism top brass regard the problem of policing terrorism in the UK? I would not mind so much if my right to possess a handgun had not been taken away from me and my sole protector here in London is the Metropolitan Police. Thank goodness Rowley is retired.

It is a sad commentary on the craven lack of will on the part of the Prime Minister to tackle this problem that she could do nothing for so long to get Choudray out of circulation. Yet it only took five hours to do the same to Tommy Robinson who is one of the few people in this country that has the courage to tackle islamic grooming, to which Muslim terror is so closely linked.

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Fraser • Oct 20, 2018 at 12:04

Britain is lost. They have allowed Islam to take over at the expense of Christianity and have only themselves to blame for what has happened to the country that once was 'Great'.

It is incredible that the non-Muslim populace has not taken any solid action to prevent what has happened. As for the government, they are total imbeciles.

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Dominic • Oct 20, 2018 at 11:45

"We need a change in the law so that anyone named as the inciter in two terrorist attacks should automatically serve the full sentence."

Surely anyone who is proven to have incited *one* terrorist attack should serve a life sentence.

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Etienne Prinsloo • Oct 20, 2018 at 11:42

Sadly, the British establishment and thus, the British people have made a conscious decision to surrender their country, their culture and their future to radical Islam. The recent despicable episode when a group of squaddies took a picture with Tommy Robinson which technically ended their military careers is indicative of this surrender. A Muslim "advisor" to the Military demanded this and the top brass obeyed without question. The British people have always had a problem with morals and decency. They supported terrorism across the globe, have allowed anti-Semitism to become mainstream despite weak denials and have seen a culture of rot flourish in their society which has left them without any religion or culture. A vacuum Islam has stepped in nicely. The overwhelming support for Sadiq Khan amongst especially young, white British women is a clear indicator of this slow and putrid death of a society.

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Just4gfgem Etienne Prinsloo • Oct 25, 2018 at 18:31

The British establishment and the British people are not the same. I certainly have not made a conscious decision to surrender my country and like a lot of other people I am fighting tirelessly to raise awareness, without breaking any of our UK "hate fact" laws and within the constraints of trying to keep a roof over my head, and food in the cupboard. People in the UK are losing jobs, homes and their freedom to speak out, so please don't talk about us so flippantly and so collectively. The issue you have highlighted with our military and our brave freedom fighter Tommy Robinson explains only too well what we are up against. We have been infiltrated in every institution by Islam and the extreme left. The army is one such institution and now also dances to the tune of political correctness and minority groups. Our press is pretty much 100% lost also to the extreme left wing. We have everything against us, but there are lots of little Davids in the UK facing up to Goliath - we will never surrender our country willingly.

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Jack Thomas • Oct 20, 2018 at 11:27

Is our government ever going to observe its primary duty, defence of the realm, and actually deal with such people? Until they do they must be regarded as complicit, at the very least unfit for purpose and, at worst, traitors to our country.

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Paul Alexander • Oct 20, 2018 at 11:25

Imagine, Prime Minister Shariah May would stand by the release of this criminal yet ban Dr. Michael Savage and the likes of him from entering Britain. I await President Trump doing something about this. It is as if British people have lit their own funeral pyres, and hastened their own deaths at the hands of islam. Their men stand by save for the Tommy Robinson's of Britain to stand up. The government is as good and as powerful as its people, and so one can only assume that the state of silam in Britain and the killings and rapes and stabbings like the rapes of Rotherham etc. are the British government and the British MPs and senior ministers are part of this criminal assault on the population.Shariah islam...militant islam is the gravest threat to Britain...it will fall and I argue it circles the drain now. You either stand up and find weapons and defend yourself or you die...islam will not stop until Britain is a full islamic nation.

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william carr • Oct 20, 2018 at 10:02

In addition to getting legal aide at tax payers expense, he and his family have lived in large house on public welfare assistance for almost forty years, neither he not his wife have done a day's work, claiming 'disability'. He says this is jihad allowance or the famous jizrah or Islamic tax.All this whilst clamouring for the overthrow of the entire British state and its institutions. No doubt our 'human rights' lawyers are queuing up to take his case.

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Michael Waugh • Oct 20, 2018 at 09:54

So I suspect we will have to spend more money on watching this wretch than we spent on him in prison. I expect he maintains he was born in our country, and has lived on benefits ever since. I suggest we kick him out regardless. What a disgusting waste of space.

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John MacArthur • Oct 20, 2018 at 08:41

I have been watching this man for years and believe as many do that he is uniquely dangerous - his brand of Islam is toxic, evangelical and pernicious. His oratorical skills are strong and he appeals to disaffected Muslim youth more than we have ever estimated. He will not stop. Prison had made him a martyr and those who underestimate the spiderweb of influence that he is capable of exerting are sadly deluded. This is no time for the soft approach and all means necessary must be exerted to contain him and thos who regard him as their sheikh.In the absence of any shred of repentance, he represents clear and present danger - the Islamist underworld has tentacles everywhere. But, with only the flimsy protection of British law, which is both fair and just, he will find ways to circumvent it.

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Jack Meoff • Oct 20, 2018 at 08:30

Time the laws were changed and these vermin were deported, their families with them. Great Britain did not get to be great by namby-pambying. These scum will continue with the full backing of the government, and being as the failed home secretary now even bigger of a failure PM is pro Sharia then do not expect any change. People being killed, knifed and sliced or run over is all part of living in a big city according to the just as devious Mayor. Time we had a revolution, and get this government ousted, as they are not fit for purpose!

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peter fieldman • Oct 20, 2018 at 06:54

Compared to the cost of surveillance or prison I would suggest a one way ticket to the Islamic state of his choice.

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Hamish MacDonald • Oct 20, 2018 at 06:34

Powerful article, and the Choudary issue is well addressed. The poignant remark of Lord Anderson, above is worthy of further debate, and further action: "...that existing British law is insufficient to deal with Islamic radicalizers..."

Until British people are able to put their law before all other laws such as Sharia, until they are able live without "sensitive urban zones", their country will be more and more vulnerable to pack rape, to violence, and subversive activities by men such as Choudary. Sensitive Urban zones is not what Hungary wants, and Viktor Orban has said so.

Not to many years ago solitary confinement was the only solution to such problems. Saudi Arabia still hangs people, but this does not happen in the UK, and Choudary knows this.

The victim card is what Choudary is playing. The British should be able to see this. But are they?

When McEnroe was playing at Wimbledon he learnt quick smart what not to do, because the tennis administration was onto him like a shot, knowing full well what they were dealing with.

But do the British government know what they are dealing with in Choudary? It appears they are simply playing for votes, and Islamic votes at that.

This dangerous situation is what Viktor Orban addressed when he spoke about the difference between Liberal and Christian democracy. When Islam reached a certain figure, it meant it would vote in those who were more sympathetic to Islam, and that is pretty much is what has happened in France. Patriots who want French Law to work like Le Penn are considered psychiatric problems!

The Brits have a golden opportunity to put the lid on this guy, just like they put the lid on McEnroe. It would put a stop to much nonsense. It would also pave the way for restoration of much of UK .

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Lu Hamish MacDonald • Oct 21, 2018 at 09:34

"Golden opportunity"?

Where do you see any opportunity to change what has been going on for decades on end, perpetrated by UK governments?

I dare say nothing short of citizens uprising can stop much less reverse this down slope. But then we should not call it "putting lid" on anything as that is going to be a turmoil in the likes of a war.

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